PetCaseFinder

Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Rapidly growing members of the genus Mycobacterium affecting dogs and cats.

Journal:
Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
Year:
2002
Authors:
Jang, Spencer S & Hirsh, Dwight C
Affiliation:
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital · United States

Plain-English summary

Researchers found that certain types of bacteria called Mycobacterium, specifically Mycobacterium fortuitum, often cause long-lasting skin problems in dogs and cats that don't heal over time. These skin issues can last anywhere from 2 to 72 months. Other types of Mycobacterium, like M. chelonae-abscessus and M. flavescens, can also be involved but are less common. The bacteria were tested against various antibiotics, and most of them responded well to amikacin, with varying levels of effectiveness to other medications. This suggests that there are treatment options available for pets affected by these skin infections.

Abstract

Rapidly growing members of the genus Mycobacterium were most often associated with chronic (2 to 72 months), nonhealing skin lesions of dogs and cats. Mycobacterium fortuitum (M. fortuitum) was the most commonly isolated mycobacterium obtained from these lesions, although M. chelonae-abscessus and M. flavescens were occasionally encountered. Isolates were tested in vitro to various antimicrobial agents and found to be susceptible to amikacin (100% of the isolates), cefoxitin (93.8%), ciprofloxacin (75%), clarithromycin (71.4%), doxycycline (28.6%), erythromycin (6.2%), gentamicin (68.8%), kanamycin (75%), minocycline (81.3%), streptomycin (14.3%), tobramycin (43.8%), trimethoprim/sulfonamides (57.1%), and vancomycin (15.4%).

Find similar cases for your pet

PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.

Search related cases →

Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12022405/